Dr. John Austin Jenkins, MD

Dr. Jenkins took care of my dad his office staff where great, can’t ask for a better surgeon

Dr. Jenkins preformed 3 different surgeries on me. A one level neck fusion, then a complete neck fusion, lastly A five level lower lumbar fusion. He does not listen to your concerns, his bedside manor is terrible and he refuses to listen to your concerns when it comes to your pain and where it is coming from. I had my back fusion first, followed by my first neck fusion a year later and then my final neck surgery again a year later. I tried to find another doctor for my neck issues after first surgery but no doctor would see me. None of them wanted to take on someone else’s work, in order to protect their reputation. I was forced to go back to him when my neck pain was so bad, I could not control it. The neck pain would cause spasms In my shoulder and then run if my neck causing debilitating headaches. He told me my headaches were not caused by my neck. Years later I found several surgeons that would see me and they explained that my cervical spine curves forward instead of… backwards like most people. This was causing the muscle spasms which in turn then caused the headaches. I also found out that he could’ve fixed the curve while doing my surgery in order to fix the issue with the spasms and headaches. I’m not saying he did a bad job but I feel if he would have listened to me there could’ve been a better outcome. At the time of my very first surgery with him I as on Complete disability and I reached out to the office to try to get him to fill out the disability paperwork, however he refused to do so. All I wanted was the surgeon to fill out the paperwork to back up my primary care physicians. His office refused to help in anyway and I know he got the messages because I wrote a long letter to Dr Jenkins expressing my concerns my pain levels and what was going on but he refused to answer. I later found out that in my back fusion he used a product that was not FDA approved for back surgery and was used to promote bone growth. The product was approved by The FDA for oral surgery only. I found out that some doctors used it in the cervical fusion which was causing too much bone growth and then suffocating the patient. I was lucky to find out he did not use it in my neck surgery but did in fact use it in my spinal surgery. Let me reinforce if you’re looking for a surgeon that will listen to your concerns you need to find a different surgeon. There are several doctors in the Orlando area that push surgery because that’s where they make their money, so get not just a second opinion but a third opinion.

The following is my opinion based on my past and current experience with Orlando Neurosurgery: I tried to even schedule with Dr. Jenkins who I had seen several years ago and was not permitted to see my doctor due to a note???? I hope Dr. Jenkins gets this information. I am now going to post this to Dr. Gandhi because Susan has no answers and I am not sure the individual doctors are aware of the staff issues. Horrible office staff experience and this is not a one time problem. The office staff is a symptom of horrible management and or poor office morale lead by Susan Santinella. When I questioned her for more information she was very rude to me and offered no explanation. On 2 completely different times 4 years apart I have such a horrible time simply setting an appointment. My first experience I needed to schedule an appointment to see Dr. Baker and after over 3 weeks of the office not returning calls, losing my medical records and referrals I was denied an appointment. 4… years later I am ordered by Advent Hospital ER to see Dr. Gandhi for an acute fracture of my L5 and after setting an appointment I was later called and the practice canceled the follow up appointment. Reason stated was a not in system from 4 years ago not to see patient. They refuse to give a reason. I wish the Department of Professional Regulations and Advent Health would investigate them for discrimination or malpractice. The recklessness of the office staff says that this practice is too big and you as a patient do not matter. Especially when you are in need of care you are a just a number and they want to move you in and out like cattle. Never had the chance to meet the surgeons they are too busy to care. I have been through major surgeries and issues for BC and other situations and I am outraged at the no answer, no solution attitude.

My mother is in ICU with a brain bleed. Dr Jenkins performed two brain surgeries on her within a 24 hour time frame. She came out of the surgery with flying colors. Thank you Dr Jenkins for your expertise and helping my mom.

I would not recommend him to anyone he botched my surgery did not even do anything he was suppose to and never helped me after.... had to have another surgery by another doctor and now I have no quality of life and I live with more pain 24/7 then before the surgery. He ruined my life .

He did in my opinion a botched job on back made an almost 6 inch incision down the middle of my back ( who does that is it 1970) did nothing he was suppose to do leaving me unable to move at all ...I knew something wasn't right. I would call or drive up begging for him to see me and he never would . because of Jenkins I had to have another surgery to do what he did not and fix what he did. The 2nd doctor (2nd surgery was a year later) manage to do so much more work and with just a one inch incision. The 2nd doctor said he could not believe how I did it. I had no support or absolutely no stability. In my back what do ever. I am in major pain still which they say is from the first surgery. Having to live the rest of my life not being able to anything I could before. I can not stand long or sit and that's the simple stuff. Mentally it has destroyed me. I would not recommend him to anyone at all.

I'm dr jenkens paciente for nearly 7 years and I will not in the rest of my life will change him. He is for me the best neurosurgeon. I know their is more good ones around but I will never change him. He preformed a diskectomy 7 years ago. But like he said this conditions from the lower, upper or any where in back are degenerative. So I'm went back to si him and gave my some sugestión to do before any surgery. That's what I like he will do anything before no the surgery will be the last.

Very honest and good Dr ; that take care of your needs!

He was over an hour late for scheduled surgery, did not do what he said he did, which of course was verified by his peers, leaving more damage from scar tissue, as that was ALL that he did, was create scar tissue and then had the nerve to lie about what was said, which was witnessed. Prior to seeing him was just pain, since seeing him- DISABLED!

All in all was a great experience